Belek and Kemer sit on opposite shoulders of Antalya, and they could hardly feel more different. Belek spreads across a flat coastal plain of soft golden sand, championship golf and grand all-inclusive resorts, a short hop east of the airport. Kemer clings to the Taurus mountains an hour west, where pine forest tumbles into clear turquoise water over pebble coves. This guide compares the two honestly, so you can pick the coast that fits your holiday.
Neither resort is better in the abstract; they simply suit different travellers. Golfers, families chasing water parks and anyone who wants the shortest airport run tend to land in Belek. Nature lovers, hikers, divers and those happy to trade sand for scenery lean towards Kemer. Below we weigh scenery, beaches, activities and transfer cost side by side, with our fixed fares and a clear table, and we explain whether it is worth seeing both in one trip.
Table of Contents
- Two coasts, two characters: Belek and Kemer at a glance
- Scenery and setting: flat pine plain versus Taurus mountains
- The beaches: golden sand at Belek, turquoise pebble coves at Kemer
- Things to do: golf and water parks or mountains and canyons
- Getting there: airport transfers, times and fixed fares
- Which resort suits you - and can you visit both?
Two coasts, two characters: Belek and Kemer at a glance
Antalya sits at the centre of a long curving bay, and Belek and Kemer occupy its two ends. Belek lies about 33km east of Antalya Airport, a flat, sheltered plain where pine forest, golf fairways and wide beaches share the same soft ground, with the Taurus range a distant blue backdrop. Kemer is roughly 60km west by our transfer zone, closer to 58km on the coastal road, and the landscape is the opposite: the mountains rise almost from the waterline and the town shelters in their shade.
Because they lie on either side of the city, the two are around 90 to 100km apart by road, a 75 to 90 minute drive through Antalya. That distance matters when you plan, because a day trip from one to the other eats a good chunk of the day. Most visitors choose one as a base and treat the other as an occasional excursion rather than a twin-centre stay.
Scenery and setting: flat pine plain versus Taurus mountains
Belek's appeal is calm and horizontal. The resort belt is a broad plain of umbrella pine and eucalyptus, threaded with manicured golf courses and long straight beaches, so the walking is easy and the views open. It feels spacious and green rather than dramatic, and the flat ground is part of why the golf and the big family resorts work so well here. In high summer it can also feel hot and exposed, with little natural shade once you leave the trees.
Kemer trades that openness for drama. The Beydaglari mountains of the national park drop steeply to the sea, pine forest scents the air, and small coves such as Moonlight Bay tuck between rocky headlands. The elevation and tree cover tend to make Kemer feel a touch cooler and fresher than the plain, and the scenery is the main event rather than the backdrop. If mountain views and forest walks matter to you, Kemer wins clearly on setting.
The beaches: golden sand at Belek, turquoise pebble coves at Kemer
This is the difference most holidaymakers feel first. Belek's beaches are wide, gently shelving and made of soft golden sand, several holding Blue Flag status, which makes them ideal for young children, sandcastles and long flat walks. The water deepens slowly and the shoreline is broad enough for sunbeds, watersports and room to spread out.
Kemer's coast is pebble and shingle rather than sand, also widely Blue Flag rated, and the trade-off is water clarity: the sea over stones runs strikingly clear and turquoise, which divers and snorkellers love. The coves are smaller and more sheltered, framed by rock and pine. The catch is comfort underfoot, so beach shoes are worth packing, and wading in can be less toddler-friendly than Belek's sand. If a soft sandy beach is non-negotiable, Belek is the safer pick; if you prize clear water and scenery, Kemer rewards you.
Things to do: golf and water parks or mountains and canyons
Belek is Turkey's golf capital, with around fifteen championship courses including the Montgomerie, Carya, the National, Cornelia and Gloria, several of which have hosted European Tour events. It also has The Land of Legends theme park just 6km away, with its water slides, rides and dolphin show, plus the Roman theatre at Aspendos, the ruins of Perge and the Kursunlu waterfall within easy reach. It is a strong base for golfers and families alike.
Kemer has effectively no golf, but it is built for the outdoors. The Tahtali cable car climbs to a summit of around 2,365 metres in roughly ten minutes, the ancient harbour town of Phaselis sits among the pines, and Goynuk Canyon offers body-rafting and walking. Add the eternal flames of Yanartas, the beaches of Cirali and Olympos, diving and pirate-boat day trips, and you have a base aimed squarely at active, nature-minded travellers rather than manicured resort life.
Getting there: airport transfers, times and fixed fares
Both resorts are served by Antalya Airport, but the runs are very different lengths. Belek is the short hop: 33km and a 35 to 45 minute drive, with our fixed transfer at 25 euros by sedan, 35 by Mercedes Vito and 45 by minivan for the whole vehicle. Nearby Kadriye and Bogazkent are priced similarly.
Kemer is the longer westbound run of roughly 60km, around 54 minutes on the coastal D400 outside peak times, with afternoon traffic through Antalya sometimes adding ten to fifteen minutes. Because it covers a wider zone, our Kemer transfer ranges from 45 to 70 euros by sedan, 60 to 90 by Vito and 75 to 120 by minivan depending on your exact hotel. Every fare is fixed, paid in cash to the driver in euros, dollars or lira, with flight tracking and free child seats included. You can check any route on our price calculator before you book.
Which resort suits you - and can you visit both?
Choose Belek if you are a golfer, want a luxury five-star all-inclusive, are travelling with small children who need soft sand and water parks, or simply value the shortest airport transfer. It is the easier, more polished base, and the flat terrain keeps everything low-effort.
Choose Kemer if mountains, pine forest and clear water pull harder than sand, if you plan to hike, dive or try canyoning, and if you prefer a cooler, more scenic and slightly more active setting. You do need to accept pebble beaches and a longer transfer.
Can you do both? Yes, but they are 90 to 100km apart, so a cross-bay day trip is a long one. Many people base themselves in one and hire a driver for a full day on the other coast, or split a longer holiday into two stays. We can arrange a fixed one-way transfer between the two whenever you want to switch coasts.
Belek vs Kemer compared
| Feature | Belek | Kemer |
|---|---|---|
| Position | 33 km east of Antalya Airport | around 60 km west of Antalya Airport |
| Airport transfer time | 35-45 minutes | around 54 min, +10-15 in traffic |
| Transfer (sedan/Vito/minivan) | €25 / €35 / €45 | €45-70 / €60-90 / €75-120 |
| Landscape | Flat pine plain, distant mountains | Taurus mountains meet the sea |
| Beaches | Wide soft golden sand, Blue Flag | Clear turquoise pebble coves, Blue Flag |
| Golf | Around 15 championship courses | Effectively none |
| Signature sights | The Land of Legends, Aspendos | Tahtali cable car, Phaselis |
| Best for | Golfers, luxury families, easy sand | Nature, hiking, diving, scenery |
Practical Information
Frequently Asked Questions
It depends on the beach you want. Belek has wide, soft golden sand that is ideal for children and easy walking, while Kemer has pebble coves with strikingly clear turquoise water that divers and snorkellers love. Both hold Blue Flag beaches. For a classic sandy holiday choose Belek; for clear water and mountain scenery, choose Kemer and pack beach shoes.
They sit on opposite sides of Antalya, so the road between them runs around 90 to 100km and takes roughly 75 to 90 minutes, passing through the city. Belek is about 33km east of the airport and Kemer roughly 60km west. Because of that gap, most visitors base themselves in one resort and treat the other as a day trip or a separate stay.
Our fixed fare from Antalya Airport to Kemer is 45 to 70 euros by sedan, 60 to 90 by Mercedes Vito and 75 to 120 by minivan, with the exact figure depending on your hotel within the Kemer zone. The price covers the whole vehicle, not per person, and includes flight tracking and free child seats, paid in cash to the driver.
Belek, by a clear margin. It is only 33km from Antalya Airport, so our transfer is a fixed 25 euros by sedan, 35 by Vito and 45 by minivan. Kemer is roughly twice the distance to the west, so fares start at 45 euros and rise with vehicle size and exact location. If transfer cost and time matter to you, Belek has the edge.
No. Belek is Turkey's golf capital, with around fifteen championship courses such as the Montgomerie, Carya and the National, several of which have hosted professional tournaments. Kemer has effectively no golf and is instead built around its mountains, forest and sea. If golf is central to your holiday, Belek is the obvious base and Kemer would mean travelling back across the bay.
Yes, though they are 90 to 100km apart, so a cross-bay day trip is a long one. Many visitors base themselves in Belek or Kemer and hire a driver for a full day on the other coast, or split a longer holiday into two separate stays. We can arrange a fixed one-way transfer between the two whenever you want to switch coasts.